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Sexual Orientation Victimization and Trauma: What You Need to Know

Sexual Orientation Victimization and Trauma: What You Need to Know. Delete text and place photo here. “The average age of self-identification as an LGB person is 15” (Dragowski, Halkitis, Grossman, & D’Augelli, 2011 ).

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Sexual Orientation Victimization and Trauma: What You Need to Know

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  1. Sexual Orientation Victimization and Trauma: What You Need to Know Delete text and place photo here. “The average age of self-identification as an LGB person is 15”(Dragowski, Halkitis, Grossman, & D’Augelli, 2011) Immersed in a society that promotes value systems and stereotypes that appear to rationalize prejudice and discrimination against them, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth report higher levels of victimization than their heterosexual counterparts.

  2. The Gay and lesbian Straight Education Network survey 2003 Delete text and place photo here. “While many minority groups are the target for prejudice... and discrimination... in our society, few persons face this hostility without the support and acceptance of their family as do many gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth”. Virginia Uribe and Karen Harbeck 39% of LGB students and 55% of transgendered students were shove or pushed. Transgendered youth were one-third more likely to endure physical harassment than LGB students. 64% of LGBT students feel unsafe at school. In most the most recent month, 29% missed one or more days of school because they felt they were in danger. 25-40% of homeless youth may identify as LGBTQ. Parents or caregivers often throw them out of their homes after they discover or are told of their child’s sexual orientation.

  3. The Gay and lesbian Straight Education Network survey 2003 Delete text and place photo here. “If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise”. Johann von Goethe 33% of LGB students reported attempting suicide in the previous year. 8% of their heterosexual peers reported attempting suicide. 84% of LGBT students were called names or had their safety threatened as a result of their sexual orientation or gender expression. 45% of LGBT youth of color experienced verbal harassment and/or physical assault in response to perceived sexual orientation and race.

  4. “I'd rather be black than gay because when you're black you don't have to tell your mother “ (Charles Pierce, 1980) Delete text and place photo here. LGBT youth are not only vulnerable to the traumatic events of all youth but also have to contend with family rejection, school harassment, and physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse in response to suspicion or declaration of their emerging sexual orientation and gender identity.

  5. Gay , Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) 22% of LGBT felt unsafe in school compared to 7% of heterosexual students. Almost 90% of 7261 students surveyed by GLSEN reported being verbally harassed. 40% reported being physically harassed because of their perceived sexual orientation. 19% reported being physically assaulted. 6 out of 10 students felt unsafe at school. Delete text and place photo here.

  6. Many LGBT youth never self identify or disclose their struggles related to gender expression, which presents a significant obstacle in counseling/therapy. Counselors are cautioned to not expect or inadvertently pressure youth to “come out”. An ill-advised disclosure could put the youth in a vulnerable position (needing to maintain control). “No matter how far in or out of the closet you are, you still have a next step”. Author Unknown Delete text and place photo here.

  7. Gender Expression, Victimization, and PTSD Among LGB Youth Delete text and place photo here. 30% of the sample reported discouragement from parents; 53% were told to change their behavior, 12% were punished, and 8% were sent to counseling (D’Augelli, Grossman & Starks, 2006). 66% of females were called tomboys while they were growing up. 58% of males were called sissies. Males received significantly more negative responses to their gender atypicality from parents.

  8. Sexual Orientation Victimization (D’Augelli, Grossman & Starks, 2006) “ My mom was screaming at me, calling me a ‘fucking faggot’ and ‘cocksucker’, I cried and cried”(10 yr old boy).“ Mom ‘went off’ on me calling me a dyke” (17 yr old girl).“ A 50 year old man, a religious fanatic, called me evil, and said that me and my girlfriend were ‘nasty’, and called our relationship an abomination” (18 yr old female). 78% reported verbal SOV. 11% reported physical SOV. 9% reported sexual SOV. Males reported more SOV than females in all three categories. 73% reported that the first SOV experience occurred in school, 13% in public setting, and 10% at home.

  9. Sexual Orientation Victimization (D’Augelli, Grossman & Starks, 2006) “The impact of early experiences of difference, labeling, criticism by others, and victimization can be seen in the current mental health findings, especially trauma symptoms” (D’Augelli, Grossman & Starks, 2006). Gender expression and SOV have a direct correlation and mental health indicators. Children who exhibit gender atypicality are significantly more likely to experience verbal and physical SOV than LGB youth who are gender typical. Both genders scored higher on the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Trauma Symptom Checklist. 9% of LGB met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD (15% of females, 4% were males).

  10. Use inclusive language. Most of our language assumes heterosexuality. Recognize that there is a difference between ‘same-sex sexual encounters” and being gay or lesbian. Connect youth with support groups or student organizations that allow them to interact with other LGBT Youth. Learn about the stages of sexual identity development. Remember that counseling intervention has been successful whenever an adolescent is willing to be vulnerable and process challenging material. Providing a safe space may very well be a vehicle to reducing risk of future trauma. Considerations for Treatment with LGBT Youth Delete text and place photo here.

  11. References D’Augelli, A.R., Grossman, A.H., & Starks, M.T. (2006). Childhood gender atypicality, victimization and PTSD among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(11), 1462-1482. Dragowski, E.A., Halkitis, P.N., Grossman, A.H., & D’Augelli, A.R. (2011). Sexual orientation victimization and posttraumatic stress symptoms among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 23, 226-249. Heidt, J.M., Marx, B.P., &Gold, S.D. (2005). Sexual revictimization among sexual minorities: A preliminary study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(5). 533-540. Killem-Harvey, A & Stern-Ellis, H. (2006). Culture and trauma brief: Trauma among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 1 (2). Resources • Center on Halsted (LGBT community center in Chicago): www.thecenteronhalsted.org. • Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network: www.GLSEN.org • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: www.thetaskforce.org • Project VIDA, Inc. (Serving the LGBT African American and Latino/a community in Chicago): www.projectvida.org • The Alliance: Illinois Safe Schools: http://www.illinoissafeschools.org/

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